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Political Theory Research – (M.Sc.)

University of Oxford

Social Sciences
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Disciplines:
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Annual Tuition Fee: ≈ € 7,164 - ≈ € 15,440 (non-EEA)
Location: Oxford / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴
Duration: 12 months Start Date: October
Educational Form:
  • Taught
Education Variants:
  • Fulltime
Languages: English 
-1.262887,51.757593

Location of University of Oxford

The MSc in Political Theory Research is an intensive one-year research preparation Master's degree. It is not a stand-alone course, but rather it is intended for students who would like to proceed directly to doctoral study at Oxford or elsewhere but who must first obtain the necessary research training in political theory.

You should include at least some indication of the topic of your eventual doctorate in your application. Do not worry if you do not yet have a detailed thesis outline: the MSc programme is intended to help you to develop a detailed research proposal.

The MSc provides an advanced level of formal training in research techniques and methodology, and enables students to acquire advanced level substantive knowledge in this sub-area of the discipline. If you are successful on the degree you will attain a proven competence in ethics, the philosophy of the social sciences, text and interpretation. You will design your research project, and will write a short thesis under expert supervision. Upon the successful completion of your MSc, you will be expected to continue your studies in pursuit of a research degree (DPhil or MLitt) in a relevant area of political theory.


Contents

As an MSc in Political Theory Research student you would have to:

* attend a twenty-week core seminar in Theory of Politics, and sit a written examination in this core subject at the end of your first year.
* submit research methods training coursework and a research design essay in preparation for your thesis.
* submit a thesis of not more than 15,000 words.

Core Subjects

* Theory of Politics
* Research Methods in Political Theory

Research Methods Subjects

Please note that the list of subjects may change each year. In 2006-2007 students can choose from the following:

* Introduction to the Advanced Study of Politics and International Relations
* Philosophy of the Social Sciences
* Text and Interpretation
* Ethics
* Formal Analysis
* Constructing the Text: The New Bentham Edition
* Research Design in Political Theory Workshop
* Archive Research
* Content Analysis
* Focus Groups
* Problems of Method in the History of Political Thought
* Public Law and Legal Sources
* Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences
* Applied Statistics for Political Scientists
* Intermediate Social Statistics
* Field Interviewing
* Interview Analysis
* Elite Interviewing
* Social Research and the Internet
* Measurement in the Social Sciences
* Multilevel Modelling
* Network Analysis
* Panel Data
* Structural Equation Modelling
* Time Series Analysis

At the end of the summer you will have to submit a short thesis of up to 15,000 words. The MSc thesis is a substantial piece of research, which should be regarded as a piece of preparatory work for, or a preliminary contribution towards, the eventual doctorate. It should demonstrate a grasp of its sub-field, a set of design and methodological issues, and the ability to develop and sustain an independent line of argument.

IELTS

You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.

Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.

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Requirements

Applicants should have a good 2.1 degree from a United Kingdom University, or an equivalent qualification.

English language test - IELTS 7.5 with at least 7.0 in each component TOEFL overall score of 630 with a test of written English score 5. Applicants who have taken the computer-based TOEFL test must achieve an overall score of 267 with an essay-writing score of 5.

Language Proficiency

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): Grade A (Score: 80)

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